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La Foret
by
La Foret Image
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 27 Ratings

  • Summary: The experimental indie-rockers led by Jamie Stewart return with album number four.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. Junkmedia
    100
    These are songs about horrible times in horrible lives; hearts are rotten long before they break and the sounds they make are awful and haunting and beautiful.
  2. Stylus Magazine
    91
    La Forêt has the sort of courage-minus-contrivance that is exceedingly (and ironically) rare in music of its dramatic and thematic ilk.
  3. Magnet
    80
    La Foret sounds like what rock might've become if all the British Invasion bands had hailed from postwar Berlin. [#69, p.112]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Drowned In Sound
    80
    Easy listening this amn’t, but if you want a rollercoaster ride into deep recessions and to be thrilled by the sounds that surround you, then this could be the perfect album for you.
  5. Splendid
    80
    In the best possible way, the album is a painful listening experience, forcing the listener into immediate and excruciating catharsis: you look into the eyes of a cold stranger, and see nothing but ugliness and painful regret.
  6. Almost Cool
    73
    While these experiments don't always quite work, at the very least the group isn't falling into a rut.
  7. Delusions of Adequacy
    30
    Unfortunately, the mere manufacture of unique sounds isn’t enough to rescue them on La Forêt.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 3 out of 9
  1. DonaldH
    Jul 12, 2005
    10
    I've been a giant Xiu Xiu fan, and what I've come to expect from them with each album is a sense of surprise, and I have to admit, I've been a giant Xiu Xiu fan, and what I've come to expect from them with each album is a sense of surprise, and I have to admit, I was -very- surprised by this album. It's subdued, to say the least. If Fabulous Muscles showed off his influence from bands such as the Smiths and Joy Division, this album shows off his classical art music bent, displaying a serious knowledge of John Cage and George Crumb. It's an amazing disc, and just like each of their other discs, it a charm and character that is uniquely its own. Give it quite a few listens, though. I doubt many people will truly digest it for the true quality it is at first.… Collapse
  2. markh
    Sep 3, 2005
    10
    good work xiu xiu. brave + original.
  4. lostyourhead
    Aug 6, 2014
    10
    "La Foret" is perhaps my favorite Xiu Xiu album. These songs are brilliant, subversive, confessional gems, constantly hurtling over the edge"La Foret" is perhaps my favorite Xiu Xiu album. These songs are brilliant, subversive, confessional gems, constantly hurtling over the edge into uncomfortable, brutal truth in the best possible way. "Muppet Face" remains my favorite Xiu Xiu song. The range of styles, the turns from soft to abrasive, and Jamie's gorgeous, wavering voice--it's just so good.… Expand
  5. AramisG
    Jul 14, 2005
    8
    Jamie, if you read reviews, I just want to say I love Xiu Xiu. It is a testament to your devotion to music that you put out an LP once a Jamie, if you read reviews, I just want to say I love Xiu Xiu. It is a testament to your devotion to music that you put out an LP once a year. That is the way all the great old bands did it and I think that totally rocks. Your live shows are pretty awesome too, but I would add a live percussionist (3rd person) because the constant sequencing gets a little old. La Foret is pretty awesome and I love the way it is recorded. Overall it has a crispness that was missing on your previous efforts. However, with all the praise I could and should heap on Xiu Xiu, I am completely done with the whisper/ mumble type songs. Maybe it was … Expand
  6. benjik
    Sep 13, 2005
    8
    scary and beautiful at the same time... "muppet face" is possibly one of the best songs ever written
  7. Matt
    Oct 25, 2005
    3
    Ugh, I can't get into this. I'm sure some people will like it, but I just can't do it. I can listen to a lot, and I usually Ugh, I can't get into this. I'm sure some people will like it, but I just can't do it. I can listen to a lot, and I usually like the "weirder" music, but I can't sit through it here. And by the way, I don't listen to commercial radio or watch music videos.… Expand
  8. AlexEiffel
    Sep 13, 2005
    0
    Xiu Xiu is contrived shit. Listening to this kind of music will not make you a more intelligent person.

See all 9 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Best Album of 2005

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